Bed Bug Prevention Checklist for Travel: 8 Tips to Protect Your Home

Traveling should be about making memories, not bringing back expensive, blood-sucking souvenirs. In 2026, bed bug infestations in high-traffic travel hubs like Florida are at an all-time high. A single female bed bug hitchhiking in your suitcase can lead to a home infestation costing between $1,500 and $5,000 to professionally treat.

Your Essential Bed Bug Prevention Checklist for Travel

To save your home and your wallet, follow this essential bed bug prevention checklist for travel every time you leave the house.

1. The "Bathtub First" Rule

Before you even check the view from your hotel window, place your luggage in the bathtub or on a tiled bathroom floor. Bed bugs struggle to climb slick, non-porous surfaces like porcelain or tile. This buys you time to inspect the room without your bags becoming a target.

2. Perform the 5-Minute "White Sheet" Sweep

Strip the bed linens back to the mattress protector. Focus your eyes on the four corners of the mattress and the seams.

• What to look for: Tiny black spots (fecal matter), translucent discarded skins, or the bugs themselves (the size of an apple seed).

• Pro Tip: Check the back of the headboard—it’s the #1 hiding spot. Use a High-Lumen LED Travel Light to see into the dark crevices where hotel lamps can't reach.

3. Keep Luggage Elevated (And Away from the Wall)

Never lay your suitcase on the bed, the carpet, or upholstered chairs. Use the provided metal luggage rack, but pull it at least 6 inches away from the wall.

Transactional Note: For 100% peace of mind, we recommend using Bed Bug Proof Luggage Liners. These zippered encasements ensure that even if a bug gets into your bag, it can’t get into your clothes.

4. Pack a TSA-Approved Bed Bug Spray

Prevention starts before you arrive. Lightly treat the exterior of your suitcase with a TSA-approved bed bug spray. These non-toxic formulas act as a deterrent, making your luggage "unattractive" to hitchhikers during transit or in hotel closets.

5. Use Dissolvable Laundry Bags

Don't mix your dirty "hotel" clothes with your clean ones. Use Water-Soluble Laundry Bags. When you get home, you can drop the entire sealed bag directly into the wash. This prevents bugs from escaping into your bedroom while you’re sorting the laundry.

6. The "Hard-Shell" Advantage

If you are in the market for new luggage, consider switching to hard-shell suitcases. Unlike fabric bags, hard-shells have fewer seams and "footholds" for bed bugs to latch onto, making them significantly more "bed bug resistant."

7. The "Garage Unpack" Strategy

When you return home, do not bring your suitcase into your bedroom. Unpack in the garage, on the porch, or in the laundry room. Immediately inspect the wheels and zippers of your bag before moving it into storage.

8. The High-Heat "Kill Cycle"

The most effective weapon against bed bugs isn't soap—it’s heat. Throw all your travel clothes (even the unworn ones) into the dryer on High Heat for at least 30 minutes. This guaranteed "kill cycle" ensures that any eggs or nymphs that managed to sneak through are neutralized before they enter your closets.

Don't Travel Unprotected from Bed Bugs

The cost of a 3-ounce spray or a set of luggage liners is pennies compared to the nightmare of a home infestation.

The Ultimate Bed Bug Prevention Checklist for Travel

Use this checklist at every destination to ensure you don't bring unwanted guests home to Sarasota.

• [ ] The Bathtub Rule: Immediately place all luggage in the bathtub or on a tiled bathroom floor upon entering the room.

• [ ] Bed & Headboard Inspection: Strip the linens and check mattress seams and the back of the headboard for black spots or shells.

• [ ] Safe Storage: Keep suitcases on a metal luggage rack pulled away from the wall. Never leave bags on the bed or carpet.

• [ ] Pre-Travel Shield: Treat the exterior of your bags with a [TSA-Approved Bed Bug Spray] before checking into any hotel.

• [ ] Clothing Isolation: Store all worn clothing in sealed [Water-Soluble Laundry Bags] to prevent cross-contamination.

• [ ] Hard-Shell Protection: If possible, travel with hard-shell luggage to minimize seams where bugs can hide.

• [ ] The Garage Unpack: When you return home, unpack your suitcase in the garage or laundry room—never in the bedroom.

• [ ] High-Heat Kill Cycle: Immediately place all travel clothes in the dryer on High Heat for 30 minutes to neutralize hitchhikers.